ELMIRA, N.Y. -- An early deficit proved to be too much to overcome for the Elmira College men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon, as the Soaring Eagles fell to the visiting Pioneers of Utica College by a final score of 83-66.

The Pioneers' (16-4, 7-2 E8) ability to get to the free-throw line played a key role, as Utica went 19-for-25 (76.0%) from the charity stripe to maintain its edge over the Soaring Eagles (2-18, 1-8 E8). The Purple and Gold found much of their success from beyond the 3-point arc as they hit 40% (10-for-25) of their attempts from deep. EC also managed to turn Utica's miscues into points, as 17 Pioneer turnovers led to 20 points.

The trio of Shawn Backus '21, Rashaad Nurse '22, and Jeff Jung Jr. '23 led EC's offense, as Backus scored a team-high 12 points, while Nurse and Jung Jr. finished with 10 points apiece. Utica had a quartet of players finish in double digits, headlined by Darius Hopkins, who scored a game-high 20 points.

Utica built an early lead in the first half behind a stellar 53.8% (14-for-26) mark from the floor. Elmira shot a respectable 42.3% (11-for-26) from the floor, but the Pioneers' hot start made the difference over the first 20 minutes of play. Utica came out firing to open the contest, as the visitors used a 10-2 run over the first four minutes to seize the momentum in Speidel Gymnasium. Hopkins did a majority of the damage with a pair of 3-pointers to force EC to play from behind. Haven Smith '23 halted the run with a baseline jumper, but the Pioneers answered with a make from beyond the arc.

The visitors' continued to tack onto their lead, eventually seizing an 18-point advantage with 8:05 left on the clock. Despite the deficit, Elmira continued to chip away and scored eight consecutive points, highlighted by a pair of deep balls from Kyle McCreery '20 and Backus. Time worked against Elmira as the half wound down. Jung Jr. added back-to-back baskets, but Utica had the final say in the period to take a 40-28 advantage into the second half.

The Soaring Eagles came out with a renewed defensive focus to open the second half and eventually pulled back within five with 11:57 on the clock following a 3-pointer from McCreery. The Pioneers managed to rebuild their lead back to 12, but an 8-to-0 run, bookended by baskets from Jung Jr, spanned the next two minutes and made it a 59-55 game. The Pioneers kept their foot on the gas however and leaned on Hopkins to see out the contest.

News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles won the turnover battle, forcing Utica into 17 while limiting themselves to 13.
• Elmira knocked down a season-high 10 3-pointers.
• EC's 40.0% (10-for-25) clip from deep was its second-best mark this season.
• Backus hit double figures for the 14th time.
• Nurse posted a double-digit point total for the 10th consecutive game.
• Jung Jr. scored a season-best 10 points.
• Kyle Kokoskie '22 and Harry Ravitz '23 each dished out a game-high-tying four assists.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to action on Friday, February 7, when they welcome the Golden Flyers of Nazareth to Speidel Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.